Adjustable eye shield



March 18, 1941. R G WOQDARD 2,235,599

' ADJUSTABLE EYE SHIELD Filed April 17, 1

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE EYE SHIELD Raymond G. Woodard, East Orange, N. J assignor to Standard Safety Equipment 00., a corporaticn of Illinois Application April 17, 1939, SerialNo. 268,358

1 Claim.

tion. The device is adapted to protect the eyes of the wearer from the glare of artificial light, may

serve as a protection for flying particles of matter, such as are encountered when working on a grinding wheel, and the device is equally suitable for out-of-door use to protect the wearer from wind or sun glare. The device is designed so that the shield itself is supported at but two points and preferably is adjusted so that an open air space is provided between the upper edge of the shield and the forehead of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an eye-shield of resilient, durable, transparent material, such as of cellulose acetate and to pro-- vide it with adjustable straps so that it may be laid fiat for insertion in an envelope or the like and enable a number of the devices to be packed compactly.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure l is a front elevational view of the device; and Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the device fitted on the human head, one

of the optional positions being indicated by dotted lines.

In the embodiment illustrated, A designates a flexible band adapted to snugly embrace the head of a wearer, and is shown provided with an adjusting fastener A; B, clips through which the band A is threaded and upon which the clips may be adjustably positioned; C', swivel-members which are hinged on the clips B; and D, a transparent resilient panel which is carried by the swivel-members C.

The head-band A may be of any suitable material such as an elastic or non-elastic tape, of the type used in garters and the like, and is of suflicient length to fit around a human head. The fastener A connects the end portions of the hand adjustably and may be of any suitable con- 55 comprise a loop shaped member 3 provided with a loose cross-bar 4. The head-band is threaded through the clips so that the clips may be readily adjusted thereon when there is slack in the headband.

The swivel-members C preferably are U-shaped 5 members whose loop portions 5 fit around one of the bars on the clips B and have rounded leg portions 6 which embrace the upper corner portions of the eye-shield. The legs are perforated to receive a headed rivet or fastener 1 which passes through the legs and perforations provided in the corners of the panel.

The window portion of the device D has a panel of substantially rectangular construction having rounded corners. made of fairly heavy, resilient, transparent, and wear-proof material which will provide clear visibility. If desired, the material may be tinted to eliminate light glare. Celluloid can be used, but it is preferred to use materials which are not so inflammable. Cellulose acetate makes an excellent material as it has the desired characteristics and is not so brittle that it will not withstand rough usage. The upper corner portions of the panel are perforated to receive the rivets or 5 fasteners 1 and those corners are sufiiciently rounded to permit the swivel-members C to turn with respect to the shield when the device is turnedup, as indicated in Figure 2.

In adjusting the device the wearer first adjusts the fastener A so that the head-band will snugly embrace the head as shown in Figure 2. The fasteners 3 are then adjusted on the headband A so that the shield will be bowed outwardly. The amount of clearance between the shield and the head of the wearer can be regulated in this manner so that air may circulate between the shield and the forehead of the user. If the device is to be used as an eye protection against flying fragments of material, it may be turned down in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. If it is used to prevent light glare, it may be turned up to the position illustrated by the full lines in Figure 2. The clearance between the shield and the head-band will permit such movement.

There is a slight friction exerted by the swivelmembers against the shield at all times, but this friction is considerably increased when the device is placed on ones head due to the resilience of the shield and this friction is sufficient to hold the shield in any desired angular position. As will be readily seen, the clearance, which may be afforded by proper adjustment of the clips B, will enable the device to be used without interference The panel should be 15 portions of said panel; an adjustable clasp pivotally secured to each of said swivel members; and a flexible head-band loop threaded through said clasps and adjustable lengthwise to fit a human head snugly, at least one of said clasps being adjustable longitudinally of the head-band whereby the air space between the head-band and panel may be regulated to accommodate eyeglasses of the wearer, if desired, and the panel may be tilted adjustably to a desired angular po- 10 sition.

RAYMOND G. WOODARD. 

